Reminiscent of the Vrdolyak 29 days against Harold Washington. Difference is that Vrdolyak and Burke are on their way to the pen this time.

I'd like to keep this thread going to discuss Chicago political affairs if that is good with everyone else.

Oh joy.

Is Burke himself still denying?

Also, given the ridiculous mandate for Lightfoot, wouldn’t she have a massive public support advantage in any Council Wars 2.0?

Not if that public doesn’t react and vote out the Burke faction. Considering the poor turnout and how hard it was to get progressives over the line, mayor Lightfoot is going to need an effective PR campaign to sideline him.

Last last night, the Mayor-elect notified the Mayor of her request that he delay a committee vote on the controversial Lincoln Yards TIF project that Mayor Emanuel has championed. Lightfoot campaigned on the idea that there should be a cost-benefit analysis done on the TIF system before proceeding with any new TIF districts.

The Mayor agreed to do so, but a handful of council members, most vocally Brian Hopkins of the 2nd, whose ward the project would fall in, threw a fit. They motioned to hold the vote, but Chairman and outgoing 40th ward alderman Pat O'Connor denied it.

O'Connor signaled that there will be another hearing on Wednesday morning and he is hopeful that the Mayor and Mayor-elect can come to an agreement before then so that a vote can be held.

It's only been a week, but if this start is any indication of what her tenure as Mayor will be like, I'd say she will not have a good relationship with the council.

That's a huge plus, btw. A huge number of council members are criminally crooked at worst and owned by developers at best. She just has to identify how she's going to get her agenda through if that relationship isn't there, given that the council has a number of methods it can use to block the Mayor's agenda. She'll have a more cooperative council as of 5/20 than what is currently in place, though.

Sure enough, the vote will take place today. Lightfoot issued a statement last night saying she secured stronger commitments from the developers on MWBE and giving the green light to the vote.

Yesterday, it appeared that the vote was going to take place today regardless, so it seems that this is Lightfoot is trying to save face by giving the green light. She may appear weak if the council is steamrolling her wishes before she even takes office.

There are now 12 votes separating the candidates in the 33rd ward, per the recent Sun Times edition today.. I’m literally not going to get good sleep till that race is called, even with my gal in the lead.

It became pretty clear today that Lightfoot misplayed the Lincoln Yards/78 deal. Progressives are now pissed that she has given the green light, yet she looks equally weak in front of the council having come out against it and then caved.

It became pretty clear today that Lightfoot misplayed the Lincoln Yards/78 deal. Progressives are now pissed that she has given the green light, yet she looks equally weak in front of the council having come out against it and then caved.

The Establishment is going to exploit this & up the ante even further against her.

Lightfoot's May 20 inauguration will be at Wintrust Arena and is open to the public. A City Hall open house will follow.

This week, she was in Washington. She met with Ivanka Trump (representing the WH), Nancy Pelosi, and other officials, as well as the Illinois delegation. She also held a fundraiser, telling the media that she wants to have a presence in 2020 to help her allies/early backers. Can't think of who that would be, though - no one is in trouble.

Additionally, liberal/reformist firebrand Scott Waguespack says he is one vote away from having enough to take Finance chairman. More moderate alderwo/men have gotten behind Tom Tunney. Both were Lightfoot endorsers, though Waguespack was an early backer (Tunney very late) and key ally and adviser to the ME throughout the campaign.

Lightfoot and Preckwinkle had lunch today to discuss collaboration heading into the Mayor-Elect's inauguration. Preckwinkle remains Cook County Board President and the two will interact considerably in their respective roles.

Lightfoot and Preckwinkle had lunch today to discuss collaboration heading into the Mayor-Elect's inauguration. Preckwinkle remains Cook County Board President and the two will interact considerably in their respective roles.

Lightfoot laid out her plan on aldermanic prerogative in meetings with aldermen this week. That is the unwritten rule that aldermen have essentially unchecked control over activities requiring city approval within their wards. It has been at the heart of most political scandals in this town over the last several decades.

The aldermen say she plans to push to curtail the practice on licensing and permits, but will leave zoning untouched. Most aldermen have opposed the plan. The two that are most supportive are an interesting pair - Alds. Cappleman and Ramirez-Rosa.

Lightfoot tells the press that she plans to end aldermanic prerogative over zoning as well. She says she’ll do it via a re-write of the zoning code. I’m a happy voter Will be happier once it happens, though.

She also denies that the leadership being reported is final, but confirms that Waguespack will be front and center. She cites his experience in good government and his early endorsement of her despite political consequences.